"I told the ambassador bluntly that I would oppose letting the United States use bases in Central Asia because Americans may turn them into permanent residence," Rogozin was quoted as saying by Interfax.

But Vershbow, speaking at a memorial ceremony for victims of last week's attacks on the U.S., said: "I'm convinced that the public solidarity we have seen in the past week will bring our two countries together on this challenge."

Russian deputies are on Wednesday debating Moscow's policy on terrorism following last week's attacks.

Deputies of the State Duma lower house were scheduled to discuss resolutions which would give backing for President Vladimir Putin to join international efforts to defeat terrorism.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov is due on Wednesday to meet President George W. Bush and leading members of his administration in Washington.

Vladimir Rushailo, secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Security Council, said in Kazakhstan on Wednesday it was too early to say whether ex-Soviet states could allow U.S. forces to use bases and airspace.

Deputies are discussing a resolution tabled by the centrist OVR bloc which would allow moves to involve Russia in the fight against terrorism.

A second motion says the perpetrators of the
U.S. attacks had to be brought to justice, adding that any use of force
must be "proportional and rigorously monitored" and should not
provoke any destabilisation in the region.